Filament-support.



M. M. MERHITT.

FILANIENT SUPPORT.

APPLICATION r|LEo1uLY18.19|u.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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MATTHEW M. MERRTT, Ol MDDLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATON OF N'Elt Y'ORK.

Application i'led July 18, 1910.

are fragile and easily broken such, for

ample, as those made ol' tungsten.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying lillustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particir lai-ly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings: Figure l is an elevation partly in section showing an incandescent lamp having a tungsten filament and provided with a fil-aillent support embodying one form of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the lamp stem with the Element and supports attached thereto; and Eig. 3 is a view similar to ltigr. l showing,n a modified form of the invention.

Referring; to the drawings and to the embodiment oi? the invention shown in Fig'. l, there is illustrated an ordinary form of incandescent lamp havingr the bulb l provided with the usual threaded base 2 and the stein 3. rlhe hollow portion of the stern 3, through which pass the lead wires Il and 5 instead oi' terminating, as usual, a short dis-- tance from the base oi' the lamp, is pro?.

longed so that the sealed portion 6 of the `stem throuo'h which the lead Wires emerse into thevacuum space of the lampi, is brought lwell "forward into the lamp space and well down toward the opposite" end of the filament. The current, therefore, instead o being brought into the lamp space near the basey end of the stem, is brought into the same near the opposite end ot the stein. wires are electrically connected to the cone ductor-sumiorts 7 and t3, respectively, which are bent back to have a generally parallel relation with the stem, being provided at Specification of Letters Patent.

At the sealed stem portion 6 the lead Patented Nov. lill, llllli'.

seran no. 572,415.

connections 9 and 10 to which the terminal ends of the filament are secured. This provides `for each terminal end of the filament a flexible wire support having its opposite end anchored or lixed to the stem but the lilanient-attaehed end free of connection thereto. The supporting wires 7 and 8, extend ing' as they do for some distance substantially parallel with the stem :trom their point of attachment thereto, provide a flexible support for the ends ol the filament which is vibratable transversely the length of the ilament and readily absorbs the ondinary shocks and vibrations which the latter is apt to receive. The filament appearing, as is usual, in the torni ot a series ot horseshoe loops or sectional lengths, is also supported at intervals intermediate the condll lll

ductor supports 7 and 8 by other vibratable"w supports in the lorm ot supporting; mein!A bers parallel with or extending; in the same general direction as the Stem and connected each to the stem or other lined part of thc lamp only at that end opposite the end to which the ilan'ient is attached. lWhile each section of the filament both at the base end and the opposite end o1"- the lamp might be so siuiported.,l or the filament ininht be so lsupported only at the opposite or tip end ot the lamp, herein such 'flexible supports are provided for the sectional lengths of filament only at the base end of the lamp, there being provided for that purpose a Series (herein three) supporting wires 12 which are tixedly secured at one end to a, prolongation 13 of the stem, but extend back toward the base of the lamp so as to present each at its opposite end a Aflexible support for the lament at that point. Y While the filament might be continuous 'without interruption and looped or hung merely over the end of theI support l2, herein the latter is provided with short electrically connected metallic arms 14: to each of which an end of a. lament length is connected. llt is to be understood that the specilic kind ot connection which the lila- 'ment has with its supports, as well as the shape or general arrangement oi2 the lilarnent, is immaterial, the purpose oil my invention being;1 to alioid a flexible support the lilament adapted to protect the lat nrorn shocks or `iai-s. li desired, both ends of each branch or "lli aav

their opposite ends with suitable joints or length oi the lilainent might ne flexibly supim f, neted to the emerge is located nearer the base end than enlargement 23 at the end support in any given case,

a label oroother designating the tip endoic the lamp, the stem, however., still providingJ flexible supporting devn.

of the same general'eharacter as those shown' in the lamp just described.- lin this modification, as-` Well as in the construction hereinbetore described., the lamp filament extends back ot the sealed portion of the steinand. therefore, back of the point of emergence ot the'leading-in wires. To provide the conductor supports for the ends of the `ilainent the wires 16 and 17 which are connected to the leading in wires extend Well down into the lamp and are then bent back so as to provide at 18 and 19 connections t'or the ends of the filament. This provides freely l vibratable end connections for the tilament of the same general character as those lirst described.

rEhe iiexible supports 20 for intermediate portions of the filament are tlexiblyV secured to the head or enlargement 21 carried by prolongation 22 of the stem and a further of said prolongation supports the anchors 2i for the lower` or opposite ends of the filament sections. a rlhe length of the overhanging liexible supports, aswell as their size and stiffness may be 'Widely varied to suit the sides of the lamp and to give the degree of tier-:ibilit'v Which it is desired to impart-to the but, by. varying these dimensions, any desired degree ot' iiexibility be imparted to the support in a direction transverse to the general lengthot the iilament and the shoeks or otherwise reaching the ilainent Willv be absorbed in the support.

By extending the hollow portion of the stem Well into the lamp, as shown in Fig. 1, the large diameter ot' the stem may be use-- fully employed for presenting a suitable reiecting surface, or may be used to display)7 or identifying marks Where they will be clearlydiscernible.

While have herein shown and described meagre-15;

tor the purpose of illustratitm one specific' eonstructional details diselomd. but that wide deviations may be made therefrom without depal,tin r from the spirit oi the invention.

Claims:

1. An. incainlescent lamp'havinln` a stem prolonged into the lamp from the base end thereot', leading-in wires emerging' from the stein relatively nearer the tip end ol' tlnl lamp than the base end, and a plurality oiflexible lilainent supports held at one end by and extending; in the same general direi- 'tion with the stein.

it. Ain incandescent lamp haring' a glass stein extending lheretln'ourrh from the base end to a point :nl iaernt to the .ip end thereoi, leading-in wires extendingy throne-h the said stem, a filament in. said lamp and support wires therefor electrically connected to the Said leading-in wires at one end and ai the other end to the said filament and extending longitudimillv ol the said stem.

3. An incandescent lamp ha ringf a `glass stem extending tlierethrongh from the base end to a point adjacent to the tip end thereof., leading-in wires extein'liinl` through (he said stem, a iilament in the said' lamp, and support Wires for the said lilament attached to the tip end o'l.E .the said stem and electricall)7 connected to the said leading-in wires,y the said support wires extending longitudinali)V of the said stein and being' attached to the said filament near the base end oli' the said lamp.

Lil. Ani incandescent lamp having a stem extending from the base to a point adjacent to the tip of said lamp, leading-in wires emerging from an intermediate point in said stem, a filament composed oi' a plurality 'of lengths ,extending back of said point of emerge]iceT and llexible conducting and. supporting members .for the said fila- ;,ne'nt electrically connected to said leadingin wires and supported b v the said stem at said point of en'iergenee extending back toivard the base .of the said lamp and electrically'oonnected to the Lsaid lilainent.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed mv aine to this specification, in4 the presence et tivo subscribing witnesses.

MATTHEV M. MERR-lilvlh lilitnesses D. E. Vi/oonwAmn F. T. Bonne.

El (l 

